The Snappy and Shady [c]

Trufflesnap wasn't patrolling, she was prowling. Her mind whirled with anger, hatred, and the formation of new plans. RiverClan must be stopped, but it was only her. Her siblings, she loved them, but they would never join her plan. The face of Perchstar's stupid, fish breath, smug face flashed in her mind as she continued on. With her claws digging with every step and her tail lashing from side to side, Trufflesnap made her way to the Fallen Log where the border between ThunderClan and SkyClan fell. She didn't know why, but she knew if she went to the other side of the territory she may not be able to control herself. The new warrior needed to decide if clan-life was for her, or if she should chase her mother down in the Twoleg place and shove aside her old life for good. She was torn between her siblings and her mother. With a cry of frustration, she slashed her claws at the fallen log with a loud howl. The cry was shortly followed by a hack and a wheezing; her lungs probably would never be what they once were.

Beetleshade trekked through the forest toward the Fallen Log, feeling the weight on her chest lift the further she got away from camp. Sometimes it felt like she would never get rid of the scent of Shadowclan. She couldn't understand why everyone looked at her like she was the crazy one. She'd been raised on the idea that Thunderclan was the best and every other clan just stole prey and invaded territory. Now she was expected to live with an enemy clan and pretend to be their friends? Her clanmates were lying through their teeth, yet Beetleshade's honesty was looked down upon.

"When I'm leader, the other clans will have to fend for themselves, the way Starclan intended." She muttered to herself, her tail lashing with frustration. The scent of Skyclan was oddly strong as she approached the log, but she figured they'd recently renewed their scent markers until she heard a loud, angry yowl that mirrored the frustration she felt, followed by a loud hacking. Her curiosity getting the best of her, she peeked around the log, her gaze falling on the thick-furred Skyclan warrior scoring her claws down the surface of the branch.

"Whoa, what did the tree ever do to you?" She asked with a sly chuckle, leaping onto the log and grooming herself casually. "I hate to break it to you, but there are probably more trees than cats in the forest, that's not a battle you're gonna win."

Trufflesnap froze when the breeze wafted the scent of ThunderClan to her nose, and tensed up even further when the she-cat lept onto the fallen log and spoke to her. Her eyes narrowed at the cat casually grooming herself while gloating it on, but she respected the snark. It was a line she would have said.

"The tree is my fox-hearted family, but even then you're right. There's too many of them." She turned to look at the score marks down the trunk bearing the scars of her frustration. She glanced at the way back to camp before looking back to the cat on the log. Alright, she'd bite. If this turned into a tussle, pelt would make good replacement for bark.

She strutted the remaining distance to the log, her fluffy tail bobbing behind her. The warrior would be forced to stare up at the opposing clan cat if she stayed down there, so she easily leapt onto the log as well and sat a few tail-lengths from the ThunderClanner. Trufflesnap didn't recognize her. She cocked her head, once again observing the stranger.

"I knew ThunderClan was a little barbaric, but I didn't know they didn't allow grooming in camp." She flicked her tail before looking away. Her own fur stuck up in places, making her look vaguely like a thistle. But, she didn't care. It suited her well.

Beetleshade was pleasantly surprised by the Skyclan warrior's response. She'd been intentionally antagonizing them, hoping to blow off some steam in a border scuffle. She had to admit though, it was refreshing to meet someone who matched her in wits.

"Seems a bit hyrpocritical to judge Thunderclan's grooming habits when Skyclan doesn't seem to have any at all, don't you think? If your pelt is any indication, that is." She smirked, gesturing toward the other warrior with a wave of her tail. She held back a comment about the Shadowclan stench that had invaded Thunderclan's camp, not wanting to reveal too much to a cat she'd just met. Though the stranger's comment about her family piqued Beetleshade's interest.

"If you don't mind me asking, is there a particular reason you've been driven to abuse innocent trees while imagine them to be your quote 'fox-hearted family'" She asked, careful not to let her voice betray anything more than idle curiosity.